This is your look at the ordinary heroes, big and small, famous and not so famous who make a difference in our Okanagan.

Keep your eyes out for someone you recognize.

What is a Mentor?

Have you ever thought about who helped you to get where you are today? Parents, teachers, coaches, friends, and, of course, family all play a key role.

Let’s take a moment to celebrate mentors, the wise and trusted guides who often play a quiet role in helping us shape our future, break down barriers, lead us to new opportunities and encourage us to keep trying.

Mentors often don’t ask for anything in return and are often not even called a mentor. You know who you are, and we are grateful for your time and guidance.

Ever wondered about how you can have your own mentor? It’s as simple as asking someone you admire, trust, respect and look up to if they would spend time with you, to share their story and offer advice to help you write your next chapter.

You will be amazed at how willing even busy and successful people are to share their talents.

Snow Job

A big, snowy hug goes out to the talented and patient volunteers who help keep our local ski hills safe. From ski patrol, mountain "snow hosts" to the avalanche techs who make sure we keep on top of the fluffy white stuff, thank you.

Most of us who enjoy a weekend or holiday at Big White or Silver Star are spoiled and rarely encounter a problem; one of the main reasons is the dedicated folks who keep our kids safe and spring into action when an accident or injury occurs.

Last weekend up at Big White, I saw the team from Powderhounds Adaptive Snow Sports having a blast with individuals who face physical, cognitive and sensory challenges.

They are pros and work hard at what they do, and fun is at the core of what they do.

2018 Resolutions

A big cheer for everyone who sat down over the holidays to make some 2018 resolutions and have stuck to them for the first two weeks of 2018.

What was your goal?

Give up drinking

Work out every day

Save more money

Search out a long lost friend

Eat better

Be nicer

Studies show that on average, some of the top resolutions for 2018 were:

Lose weight

Spend less money

Quit smoking

Find a better job and find love.

Forty-two per cent of North Americans make resolutions and eight per cent keep them. A typical resolution is scrapped after just three weeks.

Keep up the work and faith, its mid-January and you can break the record.

Richard James Deacon is a passionate philanthropist and volunteer and is dedicated to making a lasting impact on the community. Richard has been a director on a variety of not for profit boards across Canada, but is most proud of his role as the founder of 100 Kids Who Care Kelowna, as a co-creator of The Ron+Clair Deacon Leaders Pay It Forward Program, being a Scouts Canada Beaver leader and coaching his son in Central Okanagan youth soccer.

Richard, his beautiful wife, MaryAnn, and their young sons, Reston and Parker, along with golden retriever Buddy live in Kettle Valley and they love to travel the planet extensively. What they love most about Kelowna is that everybody says hi to each other and it still has that small town feel.

The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.